Union topple City

The big boys finally squared off in a match the whole Global Premier Football League fan base had been waiting for. While the result saw Union Buenos Aires return to the top of the table, and London City FC defeated for the first time this campaign, it was the drama, atmosphere and magical quality of the football on display that stole the show. Truly, a match for the ages. Esportivo Rio won again to close in on top spot, while two of the league’s strugglers put on a performance that goes to show the entertainment isn’t limited to the upper echelons of the GPFL.

ROUND 18 ROUND-UP

The goal scoring started early at the Monumental, with Diego Santander slamming home Union’s opener in the eleventh minute, and ramped up from there. Sizzling strikes from Joseph Texier and Mark Ives had City ahead just after half time, before Abel Orzoco pulled Union level just before the hour mark. From there, the action flowed from end to end, with both sides creating excellent chances and having their keepers to thank after world class saves in both goals. The final say was left to Uruguayan starlet, Elian Corral, who came off the bench to blast home Union’s winner a minute into added time.

Esportivo Rio scored a goal in each half to see off the robust challenge presented by a very good Emirates United outfit. Rodrigo Machado hit his twelfth goal of the season on the half hour, before substitute Xabier Ballester, made the points safe ten minutes from time. The three points pushed Rio up to third, only three points behind Union and City.

LA Icons and Olympia Munchen fought out an entertaining draw. While there was no late winner, the entertainment on offer was no less enthralling than the match in Buenos Aires. LA led at half time thanks to Amine Fraisse and Escobar Cardoso, but Andre Peters struck early in the second half to ensure Olympia headed home with a share of the points. Peters’ goal, his sixteenth of the season, drew him level with Rico Cocci at the top of the golden boot standings.

Paris Metro jumped into the top six after defeating Tokyo-Yokohama United. They left it late, however, relying on centre half, Rafael Le Corre‘s header to complete the job and give Metro their first win in seven games.

Eternal Roma and Harbour City were both held on the road. Roma had the better of their match at New York Capitals, but needed a late Cristofer Ortiz piledriver to bag a share of the points. City came through a tricky test at al-Qāhirah Stars, taking the lead through Geert-Jan de Walle, only to see the Star’s big Belgian, Flavio Van Overstraeten level up for the hosts.

Johannesburg Rush got the better of Toronto Athletic in a seven goal thriller at FNB Stadium. Adrien De Koninck‘s first half hat trick effectively settled the match, but Maxence Remy‘s double kept Athletic in the game and Guillaume Poulet‘s 91st minute goal set up a nervous finish for the hosts.

Ciudad de Madrid were involved in a fourth consecutive 1-0 match, but this time they finally cam out on the right side of the score line. Swiss youngster, Elias Rohrbach, settled the game against Marina Bay Flyers in the 21st minute. 

Constantinople FC and Hong Kong Traders both secured home wins to edge away from bottom spot.

Aral Akkas was creator-in-chief for Constantinople, laying on goals for both Erkin Okay and substitute, Ralf Ziegler. CF Azteca missed from the spot late in the first half, with Rafael Mayordomo firing over, and from there the momentum swung fully towards the hosts.

The Traders went two up early, thanks to goals from Mark Evans and Francisco Pinheiro, then fought off a late Shanghai Pearl charge. Heitor Medina pulled a goal back for the visitors, who hat the woodwork twice in an unlucky final ten minutes.

AL-QAHIRAH STARS

CF AZTECA

CIUDAD DE MADRID

CONSTANTINOPLE FC

ESPORTIVO RIO

ETERNAL ROMA

HARBOUR CITY

HONG KONG TRADERS

LA ICONS

LONDON CITY FC

MARINA BAY FLYERS

NEW YORK CAPITALS

PARIS METROPOLE

SHANGHAI PEARL

TOKYO YOKOHAMA UNITED

TORONTO ATHLETIC